I think 'character' shows when players are really under pressure. The problem at Rovers is that everything is too comfortable and cosy. Mowbray has a nice long contract and the CEO is his mate and will never suggest changing the manager. There is no pressure from the owners to do anything other than plod on and meet up once a year for a chat. Many of the players are automatic choices and under no real pressure. There is no board / chairman behind the scenes reminding players ( or manager ) how privileged they are to be representing our club / town. Atmosphere during matches at Ewood is dead. Many fans grudgingly accept the current situation - 'we are where we are' The club is 'going through the motions' and has no momentum or impetus. Look at Clubs like Sheff Utd with a local co-owner and manager who really care about the club. Look at Burnley and how they over achieve because they have a proper board and a manager who do all the right things and create a feeling of pride about the club. I am not suggesting Mowbray or the players are not trying or that they don't want to do their best but the set up at Ewood these days is just not character building. We have some decent players but there's no real fight there. Venky's may have put plenty of money into the club but they've taken away all the passion.

I dream of Venky's out day. It will be return to Ewood day too. I'll finally be able to reclaim my seat on the Riverside.

But doesn't fit with Mowbray's talk about spending money in January if the playoffs were achievable. Last January we were in a great position and we didn't attempt to capitalise.

But it is so baffling. I remember at the first fans consultation last season Mowbray stated ' I know the owners will back me if we are around the playoffs in January'. Look what happened in Jan, yet money was spent in the summer. Maybe someone has advised our dear owners that you don't get value for money in January. Simple as that.

It's more than just money it's about the club's relationship with the community. Of course promotion is of the utmost importance and will affect attendances more than any other factor but why not make other gestures to the community in the meantime ? Some fans will come and go depending on results. Others are enamoured with the club at a young age and stay for life.

Not only do they get a shirt but they are given out by the players to each child individually. The kids get to visit the ground and hold the league 2 trophy. At that young age I bet they love it and it may well turn them into future paying fans. Great PR any way you look at it.

"Andy Holt, Owner and Majority Shareholder of Accrington Stanley Football Club said: “So far almost 4,000 local school children have received an official Stanley shirt over the last few years and, as a club, we committed to do this for 5 years in total. It may not be viewed as the best financial move but for me it's a key part of my responsibilities to Accrington, as majority shareholder of the club". Can you imagine someone currently at Rovers saying or doing something like that ?

My personal view is that the owners should 'swallow their pride' and start treating the fans as equals. How about some real communication? how about having a real representative at Ewood who is accessible for press conferences etc? How about giving some indication that they are actually interested in the Club and it's fans other than as a side note at the Venky's AGM ? How about some assurances for the future ? What are their ambitions ? I know they pay the bills and have provided transfer funds but it feels like a token effort. When the club gets it's soul back, with or without Venky's, then enthusiasm and pride ( that word again ) might return and with it some of the missing fans.

Not always a bad thing. Remember Speedie ?

A friend of mine got a phone call from the ticket office asking why he hadn't renewed his ST. He was honest with his answers - lack of atmosphere in the ground, lack of feel good factor generally. Hopefully Rovers will take note of any responses to these phone calls. I heard 1,700 ST holders didn't renew this year and there were about 500/600 new STs sold. So a net decrease of 1,200 / 1,100. They have a lot of phone calls to make!

Could be interesting. Armstrong scored a nice goal against them last year so he may be in confident mood. Asking a lot of Buckley to produce some incisive passing as it's not Johnson's strong point. Crosses from out wide aren't going to be much of an option given Millwall's height advantage. Don't really know what to expect.

Very quiet on here for a match day so I just checked a Millwall message board to see what they think. Seems they are, in the main, confident of at least a draw. Very few predicting a defeat. I also learned that they were originally called Millwall Rovers when they were formed back in 1885

Just out of interest, what persuaded you two guys to return this year? Were you boycotting or just had other commitments ( or lost a bit of interest)? Any other boycotters out there, are you determined to stick it out until Venky's leave or tempted to return because it's really not making any difference ?

Haven't got over last January window yet! Just outside the palyoffs and we decide we don't need to strengthen. Then the inevitable slide down the table. Missed opportunity that may not come around again for a while.

When did you give up fighting and become apathetic? They are still here and the club is going nowhere. Don't care that they pay the bills, they have no interest in Rovers.

Oh that's fine then! Don't know why we even bothered turning up!

Not unlike last season at the back. You don't pick up many points when you give 3 goals away.

2 -3 sounds like we are not doing too bad. But in reality...?

I can see what you and Herbie6590 are saying - run a tight ship, maximise income - with customers ( fans ) being fair game for fleecing. Look after your player assets and make sure they are tied down on contracts. Don't spend if you don't need to. Have a discussion at the next AGM ( ad infinitum..) However, is that any different to what was happening before the accountants came in ? As for keeping on top of players contracts, I think they were a bit too hasty when it came to Smallwood, Evans and Mulgrew. So, that's all business strategy which is simple common sense. The football strategy is cross your fingers and hope Mowbray does OK. Sell players at a profit if possible. If we are seriously aiming at promotion 20/21 then next summer's transfer window will be fun!

Could you elaborate ? I don't see much difference in their behaviour since summer 2017. Same regular cash injections ( share issues ) to pay the bills, similar transfer/loan policies, no change to the infrastructure at the club. What's the new strategy ?

Slightly condescending statement, especially when you follow it with an inaccurate fact of your own ! Maybe you could fill us in with some accurate stuff about Rovers' situation.

No need to read anything else in this thread. This sums it up perfectly.

10 is quite high if Graham is going to be mainly a sub. 4 for Brereton is also a bit hopeful. Puts more emphasis on Armstrong and Gallagher getting maybe 20 between the pair of them.

Everyone wearing balaclavas!

I'm fairly sure match day catering and such things are Greg Coar's area of responsibility.